Detergent composition



Patented June 20, 1944 DETERGENT COMPOSITION Ernst Schubert, J onsdort, near Zittau, and Heinz Pier-er, Zittau, Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian No Drawing. Application October 24, 1941, Serial No. 416,424. In Sweden November 16, 1940 2 Claims. (01. 252-132) The present invention relates to a method of producing a detergent and particularly is concerned with the manufacture of a detergent and with this detergent itself.

The method according to the invention consists in adding water soluble lignin transformation products, particularly the extraction and treatment products respectively (alkali lignin) obtained by the treatment of lignin with aqueous alkali solutions or salt solutions, to a washing agent and detergent, for instance a soap in liquid, semi-solid or solid form in the form of for instance cakes, flakes or powders which may be free'of or may contain filling'materials, or to other detergents which at least partly have on an organic basis, particularly such detergents which contain fatty acid salts and may contain other substances, for instance salts, oxidizing means, inorganic substances, as for instance waterglass, whereby preferably the content of the washing agent in fatty acid salts and organic washing agents respectively is reduced.

As is well known, the hitherto used washing agents and detergents have drawbacks, which with washing agents containing relatively small amounts of organic substances only and for instance containing chemicals having a bleaching eflect, consist in that the washing and purifying effects are not satisfactory and are accompanied by damages inflicted on the fabric, whereas the soaps, for instance the soap powders, possessing good wetting and emulsifying properties, have a washing efiect free of objections and having, however, the drawback of forming lime soaps when used in hard water.

The detergent according to the present invention, which is characterized by a content of watersoluble lignin products. particularly alkali lignin, is free of these drawbacks. An addition of 20 to 50% alkali lignin to a washing agent and detergent of the above mentioned kind results in an excellent washing effect without harmful action upon the textile material even if the washing agent contains relatively small amounts of fatty acid salts and this without presenting the drawbacks which are due to the formation of lime soaps.

The water-soluble lignin transformation products, particularly alkali lignin, act as so-called protecting colloids, so that the use of same prevents losses of fatty acids by the formation of lime soaps. The addition of water-soluble lignin transformation products, particularly alkali li nin, to washing agents with the content of fatty acids of which is relatively small, for instance, I

only, is of special importance.

According to the invention, preferably the proportion of fatty acid is reduced as faras possible in the manufacture of a washing agent and detergent. Harmful effects inflicted on the washing action as well as on the wetting and emulsifying efliciency are not to be feared and hence washing agents of a bleaching character may be used without damaging the textile material, although a definite amount of such agents must, of course, not be exceeded.

With particular advantage alkali lignin transformation products are used in accordance with the invention which may be obtained by known methods. For instance, a product resulting from wood hydrolysis which comprises a mixture of various substances and is called lignin may be treated with an aqueous soda lye or a potash lye or other alkaline reacting solutions until all soluble substances are dissolved. The treatment may be effected in the heat, for instance by boiling, and pressure may be applied. Then the solution is decanted from the non-solvated residue. .The solution contains the alkali lignin. From this solution solid alkali lignin may be obtained by evaporation and/or saltlng out. The alkali lignin solution itself, possibly after compressing, may be used in practicing the method, of the invention.

According to the invention washing agents and detergents may be obtained which are easily and clearly soluble in water up to 30 DH and have an excellent washing ffect.

Example 1 Example 2 A soap powder of the following concentration:

21.8 parts of soap scraps, 22 parts of sodium carbonate, 15 parts of sodium sulphate (Glaubers salt) is added to 22.5 parts of alkali lignin and adjusted with water to parts. The alkali lignin was obtained by treatment of the residue, remaining from the production of sugar from wood, with the same quantity of a concentrated potassium sulphide solution at boiling temperature, filtering of! the insoluble residue, mixing the filtrate with sodium bicarbonate, separating oi! the liquid, possibly compressing. and drying. The washingand detergent-action is good and no harmful eilect is exerted upon the textile material.

The treatment of the 11min may also be eiected by boiling under pressure with a potash lye oil 20%.

Example 3 To 2'0 parts of an alkylor aryl-ester oi sulphuric acid and higher molecular fatty acids, 15 parts 01' sodium carbonate, 8 parts of sodium perborate, 24 parts of an alkali lignin are added which were obtained in the following manner: 15 parts of anhydrous lignin were stirred with 28 parts of 40% ammonia solution for several hours, briefly heated under pressure and cooled after release of the pressure. The solution was salted out with sodium sulphat and the precipitated alkali lignin was used. Moreover, 4 parts of waterglass and 14 parts of sodium sulphate were added and adjusted to 100 parts with water. The product has an excellent automatic washing eil'ect without local oxygen dissociation and harmful etl'ects upon the washed material.

What we claim is:

1. A washing agent and detergent capable of operating in hard water without forming insoluble lime soaps, comprising substantially equal parts by weight of water-soluble alkali lignin and soap.

2. A washing agent and detergent in powder form capable of operating in hard water without forming insoluble lime soaps, comprising, substantially, 21.8 parts by weight of dry comminuted soap, 22 parts of sodium carbonate, 15 parts of sodium sulfate and 22.5 parts of alkali lignin, and approximately 19 parts 01. water.

ERNST SCHUBERT. HEINZ PIERER. 

